Archived article
Please note that tax, investment, pension and ISA rules can change and the information and any views contained in this article may now be inaccurate.
Why we’re still mad keen on Monks

AJ Bell is an easy to use, award-winning platform Open an account
We've accounts to suit every investing need, and free guides and special offers to help you get the most from them.
You can get a few handy suggestions, or even get our experts to do the hard work for you – by picking one of our simple investment ideas.
All the resources you need to choose your shares, from market data to the latest investment news and analysis.
Funds offer an easier way to build your portfolio – we’ve got everything you need to choose the right one.
Starting to save for a pension, approaching retirement, or after an explainer on pension jargon? We can help.
Please note that tax, investment, pension and ISA rules can change and the information and any views contained in this article may now be inaccurate.
MONKS INVESTMENT TRUST (MNKS) £13.52
Gain to date: 2.9%
Original entry point: £13.14, 10 December 2020
We were expecting more than a 2.9% share price gain when adding Baillie Gifford-managed Monks (MNKS) to our Great Ideas selections list in December, but the recent renaissance of value stocks created headwinds for a trust focused on companies with above-average earnings growth.
Having consistently traded at a premium to net asset value over the past five years, Monks now trades at a 3% discount that offers an attractive new entry point.
Shares is pleased to see the trust smashed its FTSE World benchmark in the year to 30 April 2021, delivering a total return of 55.5% compared to 33.9% for the index.
Reaffirming its ‘buy’ rating, Investec Securities insists Monks gives investors ‘a differentiated and actively managed exposure to global growth’ and highlights the portfolio’s ‘rotation towards Rapid Growth companies from Cyclical Growth in recent years’, while also noting the ongoing charge is now ‘a frugal 43 basis points’.
We share Investec’s expectation that Monks’ growth philosophy and proven investment process should ‘underpin superior returns over the long term’.
SHARES SAYS: Keep buying Monks Investment Trust.
These articles are provided by Shares magazine which is published by AJ Bell Media, a part of AJ Bell. Shares is not written by AJ Bell.
Shares is provided for your general information and use and is not a personal recommendation to invest. It is not intended to be relied upon by you in making or not making any investment decisions. The investments referred to in these articles will not be suitable for all investors. If in doubt please seek appropriate independent financial advice.
Investors acting on the information in these articles do so at their own risk and AJ Bell Media and its staff do not accept liability for losses suffered by investors as a result of their investment decisions.
The value of your investments can go down as well as up and you may get back less than you originally invested. We don't offer advice, so it's important you understand the risks, if you're unsure please consult a suitably qualified financial adviser. Tax treatment depends on your individual circumstances and rules may change. Past performance is not a guide to future performance and some investments need to be held for the long term.